Police reveal second body found one week after Zhuojun ‘Sally’ Li’s body discovered wrapped in plastic near Sydney Airport

Police have revealed chilling allegations surrounding the suspected murder of Zhuojun ‘Sally’ Li and the disappearance of her husband Jai-Bao ‘Rex’ Chen, after a second body was discovered near where the body of Ms Lin was found wrapped in plastic.

Ms Li, 33, was reported missing earlier this month after her mother was unable to reach her.

Her body was discovered in bushland in Sir Joseph Banks Park in Botany – near Sydney Airport – on December 9, wrapped in plastic.

Police then launched a public appeal to locate Zhuojun’s husband, Jai-Bao ‘Rex’ Chen, also aged 33, over “grave concerns” for his welfare.

On Tuesday, Strike Force Zygon detectives conducting a search of the area Ms Li was found in Botany located a second body about 2pm.

The second body has yet to be formally identified but at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said the police believed it was likely the body of Rex.

“The body was submerged in a creek and water. There is a strong likelihood … this is the body of Rex,” he said.

He said the police believed Rex and Ms Li were murdered in a targeted double homicide.

“Previously, we thought there was a third party involved. That has now been confirmed,” he said.

Superintendent Doherty said it was likely the pair were murdered at a Greenacres address and then transported to Foreshore Rd.

Rex’s phone was retrieved from Queensland after the alleged murder, he added.

“At some stage, after the bodies have been dumped, they (suspected third parties) have travelled up to Queensland,” he said.

The detective said the police had two suspects, who had both fled offshore.

“We are liaising with Taiwan and Chinese authorities … possibility two people involved are both offshore.”

“At least two people involved and have travelled overseas. Post the bodies being dumped.”

Superintendent Doherty said investigators believed financial motives may have underpinned the crime.

“They owed money,” he said.

He said the police had notified Rex’s family about the discovery of the second body.

“They are obviously in shock and processing the fact,” he said.

He said the exact cause of death had yet to be determined and the decomposition of the bodies made it difficult to reach a conclusion.

Police are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to come forward, including people who know about a silver Toyota Avensis that stopped on the northern side of Foreshore Road in Botany between 4am and 5am on November 30.

Investigations under Strike Force Zygon continue, a NSW Police spokesman said.

The Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, is due to address the media later this afternoon.

In an update last week, Superintendent Doherty said the car in question was being forensically examined after it was seized.

“We believe that vehicle was used to convey the body of Sally to Foreshore Drive and to conceal her body in the bushes there after they disposed of her in the bushland that vehicle,” Superintendent Doherty said.

He said Ms Li’s body would have been disposed of between 4am and 5am on November 30.

“That would fit with the, unfortunately, with the decomposition and the start of the body,” he said.

Superintendent Doherty revealed Ms Li’s body was so decomposed by the time she was found officers were unable to use fingerprints to identify her.

“We had to wait for DNA … we visit the family, and the family give DNA, and there was a match,” he said.

“So we worked with a missing person investigation, which was then been conducted by Bankstown because they lived in Greenacre, and from that, unfortunately, had to get the awful news to Sally’s mum that it was a positive match.”

Police spoke with Mr Chen’s family in Taiwan, with the help of a Mandarin interpreter, after the discovery of Ms Li’s body.

At the time, they had confirmed Mr Chen had not left Australia, Superintendent Doherty said.

Superintendent Doherty said police were speaking with Mr Chen’s family in Taiwan, however he confirmed Mr Chen – originally from Taiwan – has not left the country.

“Truth be known, we’re not sure whether Rex is alive or dead,” he said last week.

“We’re hoping that he is alive so we can actually assist with our inquiries as the investigation unfolds.